[sunshineband]

Following the spectacular failure of my parsnips to germinate after six weeks (12 up out of 4m sown  ) I decided to chit some on damp paper, and painstakingly tweezer them into those rootrainer pots (got as a Christmas gift).

They were scattered on 2nd May and they are already getting little roots 

[skywalker]

Sowed 3 year old seeds directly into the ground 3 weeks ago. 90% germination a full row of snips up now. Im not bragging - just amazed. I had written them off before they were even in the ground. Today I just stood staring at them in disbelief  :De

[sunshineband]

Sowed 3 year old seeds directly into the ground 3 weeks ago. 90% germination a full row of snips up now. Im not bragging - just amazed. I had written them off before they were even in the ground. Today I just stood staring at them in disbelief  :De

You can go off people you know 

[PennyS]

Sowed 3 year old seeds directly into the ground 3 weeks ago. 90% germination a full row of snips up now. Im not bragging - just amazed. I had written them off before they were even in the ground. Today I just stood staring at them in disbelief  :De

You can go off people you know 

Indeed. 
My original sowing (a few weeks back) is really patchy but now they are up and I can see where the rows are meant to be, I've "infilled" the gaps with another sowing.  I've sown very thickly in the hope that I do atually get enough to fill the gaps  :blink:
How on earth did you get 90% ?!

[solway cropper]

I only grow snips in Morrisons flower tubs and would be disappointed if i didn't get 90 percent germination. I'm not bragging 

[Chappers]

Chitted mine this year, but the seed was a year or two old, got about 50% germination but they are doing nicely in root trainers.

Paul

[Kristen]

Aim to harden off, and get them out, pretty much as soon as they get their first true leaf. Its surprising how quickly the tap root charges downwards ...

[sunshineband]

I have moved 17 this evening into their little homes for the next week or two.

I hear your advice Kristen and will get them out on the plot as soon as that first leaf is  unfurled. Painstaking stuff but worth it I hope 

[A. Fallowfield]

No sign of the the ones planted direct, yet!!
So I've started experimenting!

[PennyS]

No sign of the the ones planted direct, yet!!
So I've started experimenting!

What are you using?  Looks interesting! 

[A. Fallowfield]

The tubes are 2 inch diameter plastic with a paper plug in the bottom. We're lucky to have lots of different scrap plastic pipe from a certain phone company over the fence!
Hopefully I'll be able to push them straight into suitably dibbed holes!